DocnMaryland

As a Seabee I served under both Kennedy and Johnson during those dark times.Even though I am from the "Peoples Republic of Maryland", I can add that if Johnson had stayed in Congress & been indicted with his friends, we not be up to our country eyeballs in debt because of his "Great Society". What would we have accomplished without his entry into the Vietnam War? Regardless-Thank you for your service.

David Sparks

The monument was to honor the presidents of our country at the time of it's construction. If other presidents are to be honored put them on a different mountain. This sculpture is as finished as the government would let it be when it was dedicated in 1941.

VaHokie

Ernest Repp

John F. Kennedy Invigorated the Nation and united the people and congress. He brought us fully into the space age that has broought us so much much of the technology we enjoy today. We are still reaping the benifits of his leadership.

J.W. Beeson

The Statue of Liberty nor the Mona Lisa need anything added to them and to do so would detract from their magnificence. The same is true of Mt. Rushmore. The men depicted on Rushmore were a special breed at different times in the formation of this republic and should be left alone. Regan is the only who approaches their greatness but that being said, Mt. Rushmore is something like a Violin. The Design cannot be improved and to try would only lessen its already perfected form. In other words, " If it ain't broke, Don't try to fix it".

REV Keith

John Fitzgerald Kennedy was a hero in WWII, a great Senator, and if he had lived; I believe he would have cured many injustices across the nation. There is no single President that hasn't done something wrong, whether covertly, unlawfully, politically, or sexually. Nearly every President chased women, even Rev Martin Luther King Jr. And yes he got into office on the heels of a Chicago political mob. But it's what he did with the job that matters. He was no less human than anyone else, so don't judge lest ye be judged. His heart was in the right place! So get over yourself.

Lorie

Roger Vonah

Just a follow up to my comment & the response from REV Keith. The message I was conveying was more or less a quote from a friend of mine who worked as a maintenance mechanic at the Kennedy compound from 1949 until 1969 & had quite a bit to say of the whole clan, mostly on the father (Joe) but strangely had little to say on Teddy. Doesn't it seem strange the family wants to keep the JFK records sealed until 100 years after his death. Strange for a man who was supposively so great?

Lorie

Actually it was Hitler that brought the world out of the depression. sounds dumb, I know. Hitler started the European part of the War in 1939. Tojo in Japan, started the Asian part of the war in 1936. World War II is what brought the World out the depression.

David E. England

Even though there are a few good past presidents whom could qualify, I feel the monument needs to be left alone. Changing it would be a mistake. Plus any money spent on this project could be better served on many upgrades the national parks need as a whole, (such as maintenance.)

Jon Cunningham

Lorie

FDR was a great president, but he did more things that were illegal than all the others, except our current one. Everything he did to try to get us out of the depression was not Constitutional. Nobody questioned him because at least he was trying.I hold that as the reason he was a great president.

Tom from Canonsburg

Least we forget that Reagan had one of the most corrupt administrations in our history. 128 members of his administration indicted and most convicted for various crimes. Then we have Iran-Contra, of course Ollie North fell on his sword for Reagan. In all my time in the service I never witnessed a Colonel with enough horsepower to pull off the stuff that he did.

sidni Monroe

Reagan spent us into ridiculous debt, slept through cabinet meetings (Alzheimers starts early, remember), and created a foolish economy other presidents in his own party called 'voo-doo economics') that damaged our country and it's working priorities that we may not ever recover from. I don't think he needs any 'honoring' at all. Certainly not to change Mt Rushmore. Leave well enough alone.

madmonk73

Bob Brashears

I agree that Harry Truman deserves to be added. He wore the uniform, he was "over there" in WWI, he respected the uniform and those who wore it, he was not a womanizer like JFK, he integrated the armed services, and he saved untold lives by his decision to end the war with Japan by using the atomic bomb. Nuff said.

Tom A. Smith

Barack Obama,
Give him a canteen of water and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
Tell him to climb to the top and stay there until we have time to figure out how to build a fire pole for him to slide back down.
The next meeting of Congress should give us ample time...

June Anderson

I love your comment about Obama, you made me laugh and I need that with a president Like Obama, he's the worse president in history and with Jimmy Carter running a close second. I pray that we elect a president that can get our country back to being the greatest, with God as our focus, not all the liberal crap that the media is trying to force down our throats.

Anonymous

David Troutman

Just as our country is ever-changing, if it is possible to change, or add to one of our monuments, then we should. Just as one of the earlier commenters said the men depicted on Mt. Rushmore were "...a special breed at different times in the formation of our republic...". Our republic needs to change, and as it does so, we are bound to have more special people come along who will contribute to that change. I believe that Ronald Reagan was one of those special people that came along at a special time and helped our republic remain great in a dangerous time. If we could add to Mt. Rushmore, I think his likeness should be the addition.

Tim T.

I agree David! The men enshrined on Mt.Rushmore are all men who made a contribution to our country when it took a special man doing extra special things to keep or get our nation back on track. Ronald Reagan definitely did that! I'm sure there are lots of people that would argue against him being up there. But I'm sure there were lots of people that felt that way about the others up there, in there time. None of them were saints! It's not a monument to saints. It's a monument to MEN. Men who led our country and did great things while doing it!

Alvin Wilkinson

I fully agree. It should be Harry by a long shot. He was the last President that did not steal the nation blind. He was truly a real American, and also a world war one hero artillery captain. Didn't run off to Canada like Slick Willie.

Steven Michels

Our younger people are too anxious to change history by always wanting to leave their mark on this earth. There are many honors already left for Presidents since Mount Rushmore was created. Let us not take a chance on damaging a great masterpiece by trying to update history. History is our heritage. Some of it good and some not so good. But that is our history and that is how we learn to not make the same mistakes again. Let good things be preserved, not changed.

Rev Keith

I can't believe their are so many critics coming out of the woodwork; but you can always tell the morons. They always have something stupid or negative to say; when they don't even know who the hell the 4 Presidents that are part of MT. Rushmore.

Jon Cunningham

Franklin Delano Roosevelt, without a doubt. He successfully handled both World War II and the Great Depression, despite sometimes opposition from the other branches of government. Only president elected FOUR times. A no brainer in my book.

Stillwell

Another Voice

Leave it alone. I voted as such. We have already experienced more than enough change.

In the event that some change just HAD to be made(I can think of no such possible event), my suggestion wold be to blast one of the existing faces off and be satisfied with just three. I will leave it to your imagination as to which one to blast off.

Anonymous

I first thought JFK! Because I admired him, and his inaugural address, influenced my joining the Navy! But on second thought, He was just another lawyer who, as all of them around the world, have us little people, do their dirty work to bring them more power of money!
Perhaps we should erase the mountain sculptures, and replace with the images of all of our "Medal of Honor recipients!

Gerald Partain

Old Controller

No one should be added, none of the recent politicians can measure up to the originals that built, saved and established the predominance of our country. Those thinking about Ronnie may need to think about how he helped the working people with his union busting approach, and include Nancy in the background with her direction of him in his second term.

Dennis Stutzenburg

As being a half breed, one side being white and the other being Sioux. I have my Indian blood boils every time they show this monument, understand this land is sacred to the Lakota & Dakota Sioux Nation. It is bad enough that the Government has taken land and broke so many treaties then push onto land that is not good enough for the white but okay for the Indians. Maybe they should put a head shot of Sitting Bull. But you have to look at the Rushmore granite that the side of the mountain will not withstand anymore chiseling and small exploding it could make the other faces crack and fall down. This idea is great for some and not for others and have to think of the case of damage to the other Presidents.

American Legion Member

Each of the Presidents named are deserving but all have been honored in modern times with buildings and monuments.

Mt Rushmore should be left as is. It would be foolish for the government to consider money for a project when the people who fought for our freedom are being shunned and neglected. We had money to bomb Syria if approved but 2 weeks later when the government shut down all military memorials were shut down due to lack of funds. This kind of BS must stop.

The Mall was closed to vets but opened for a illegal immigration march.
The inmates are running the asylum and the madness must stop.

Our troops and their families are making sacrifices while our so called leaders are tearing down the freedom our country has always stood for.

Time for term limits and no lifetime benefits. As Ronald Reagan said "The words Career and Politician should not be together"

One 6 year term for President.. since they spend two of the four years campaigning for re-election wasting tax payer money and 2 four year terms for senate. Have all on Social Security and 401(k), no pension or benefits for life.

If they depended on Social Security the way we do, it would be fixed and we would not be told it is running out of money. How is that a pot of money filled by working people is running out but welfare is always available.

Andrew W.

I believe Mt Rushmore be left as is but if I were to have to choose a former President, although he was the least celebrated which shows a lot of his character, it would have to be John Adams due to his 'Revolutionary' credentials and peaceful resolution. Serving two terms as as our first Vice President and unlike any he then preceded President George Washington to serve as our second President. Looking back in history and reading his story he was a major significance resource and backbone in the founding of our great nation, opposed slavery, persuaded Congress to declare independence and assisted Thomas Jefferson in drafting the Declaration.

Richard Wilcox Legion member

I as most people say it should be left alone. If some change should come around, I would vote for JFK,Ronald Regean or FDR. If Kenaday had not been assinated, I believe he would have been one our greatest presidents ever.